Love like This

Chapter 3

"Sweetie, what's wrong? And don't tell me that it's nothing."

Temperance looked up from her paperwork to see Angela standing in front of her desk. "What are you talking about, Ange?"

"Brennan, please. You've been snapping at everyone. You even snapped at Goodman and he's the boss. Did you and Booth have a fight?" she asked taking a seat.

Temperance sighed and looked back down to her paperwork. "Don't Booth and I always fight?"

"Yeah, but it's rare when I see you this upset about it."

"I'm not upset, Ange, I'm just…tired. I think maybe Dr. Goodman is right. After I finish this case with Booth, I need to take a break…a vacation." He had called her into his office earlier and pointed out the fact that she had an abundance of vacation time saved up. Then he kindly suggested that she use it.

Angela immediately brightened at the idea. "Oh, honey, you mean a real, do nothing, vacation? This'll be a first for you. Have you decided where you're going?"

"I'm not sure yet. Someplace warm maybe."

"Well, whatever you do, make sure and have fun, Sweetie. Find yourself a real, live man," Angela smiled.

They talked for a few minutes longer before Angela decided to call it a night and it was close to ten o'clock before Temperance finally left.

Booth hadn't called, so she was assuming that there was nothing new pertaining to the case. Considering he thought she was such an imbecile, she wouldn't be surprised if he had gone someplace without her. What could she have been thinking to get involved with a man who obviously thought so little of her?

The argument hadn't started out any different than the others, but it was when he brought Parker up that things took a turn. How could he not trust her with his son? How could they possibly even fathom a relationship if he didn't trust her with his child? She had gone against her better judgment about getting involved with him and now things were quickly becoming disastrous.

One day had passed since their argument, but to Booth, it felt like a week and he had been beating himself up for his harsh words to her. It was five o'clock in the morning and he found himself driving to her house in hopes of apologizing without any interruptions. Pulling into her driveway, he used his keys to let himself in and he wasn't surprised to find the kitchen light on or to hear the sound of the shower running. He walked into her bedroom and made himself comfortable until she was done, nearly asleep by the time she came out.

"Booth, what are you doing here?" she asked, her tone neutral. He was lying across her bed in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans with his hair all mussed up. "Is there something new concerning the case?" She stayed in the doorway with one hand clutching her towel.

"No," he said sitting up on the bed, "I just wanted to talk to you. We didn't really part under the best circumstances last time." He gave her a sheepish smile, wishing she would yell at him or something, but she simply looked at him passively.

"Oh," was all she said. He stood up and moved towards her.

"Temperance, I'm sorry," he said softly. "I was just angry before. I didn't mean the things I said to you about Parker. I know you would never do anything to hurt him." She moved passed him and went to her dresser.

"You're right. I would never do anything to hurt him…or his innocence." She walked into the closet and came out a few moments later clad in jeans and a button down shirt. "Parker is a part of you, Booth. That means I automatically care for him." She sat on the edge of the bed and he timidly joined her.

"I know that," he said as he reached over for her hand. "I want us to try this again, Temperance." He became nervous when she didn't say anything for a moment.

"Booth, I think that what happened between us was a pretty good indicator of how things could be in the future." She let go of his hand and moved to look out the window at the dawning sun. "I think we do good work together, but if we get into this complicated relationship it'll compromise that." She turned to face him. "I don't think we're ready for this. I don't think that you've accepted that this is me and I'm not going to change just because you think I should. I've been surrounded by people my entire life who don't accept me because I'm not what they consider normal. I'm as normal as I know how to be. This isn't some façade that I put up for people. I can't help it if I'm a literal person." She sighed frustrated. "Maybe you weren't wrong about me being around Parker."

"Temperance…" Booth spoke, trying to make her understand that he didn't mean that.

"No, Booth. Sometimes, you're right. Sometimes, I can be oblivious and, sometimes, things come out of my mouth before I think. Who is to say that wouldn't happen in front of Parker?" She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the ceiling. "I don't see how this can work out for us in any good way. I don't see how we could come home together after a day of arguing and pretend like it didn't happen."

Booth sat with his head hanging, feeling like a heel. All of the times that he told her she wasn't normal and all of the times he had treated her like she didn't matter came back to him.

"You see what you did right there Bones? You asked a personal question without offering anything personal in return and since I'm not a skeleton, you get zilch. Sorry."

"You expect me to declare war on a United States Senator based on your little holographic crystal ball?"

"This is exactly why squints belong in the lab. You guys don't know anything about the real world."

"You're great at what you do Bones but you don't solve murders. Cops do."

He was supposed to be her friend and her partner, but instead he had treated her like everyone else had, like the people in foster care had probably treated her, like she was inadequate. How could he ever make that up to her?

"I think that maybe we need to spend some time away from each other after this case," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "I've already arranged it with Dr. Goodman. I'm going to be taking some vacation time soon."

"Where are you going to go?" Booth asked standing up in front of her.

"I haven't decided yet," she told him.

"Will you let me know when you do?" She nodded. He reached out to take her hand again and pulled her into a hug. "Don't give up on us, Temperance," he whispered into her ear. He pulled away slightly and kissed her lips tenderly.

By the time she opened her eyes, he was gone.

Temperance had been in Hawaii for a week and Booth had been sulking the entire time. She didn't say when she was going to be back and he knew she probably had an infinite amount of vacation time saved. He had decided that it would be good time for him to take some time off, too. He didn't want to risk having to get a temporary partner while she was gone and he didn't want to have to go to the Jeffersonian either. The Squints would surely hound him with a thousand questions. Angela had already called, but he managed to dodge her.

Booth hadn't done much with his time off, so far. Parker had come to stay with him the previous weekend and they had declared it a manly man's weekend. They watched movies, played video games and ate plenty of junk food, with the promise that he wouldn't tell his mother. The last thing he needed was a lecture from Rebecca on the proper way to raise his kid.

They had closed the case of Carol Montgomery after getting a search warrant for Ron Montgomery's home. Bones had found a wooden baseball bat that had been cleaned, but not very well. After taking it back to the lab for testing, they could see that the wood still had Carol's blood stained into it. Ron Montgomery had confessed after that. Their marriage had been struggling for years and it turned out that he was still seeing his mistress. He ratted her out, too. The knife that had been used in the murder was found in her home. They had plotted to kill Carol and now they were both going to jail for it. The children were sent to stay with Carol's mother.

What he wouldn't give to be on vacation with Temperance right then. He missed hearing her voice and her ongoing rants about any given topic. It made him wonder why he had been so resistant to her throughout their partnership. Maybe he had been fighting his true feelings for her. Reluctantly, he had to admit that it had always been a trait of his. If he didn't want to deal with something, he usual avoided it with sarcasm and smart remarks. He remembered getting in trouble for his smart mouth as a kid. Unfortunately, those remarks came back to haunt him and now he was left wondering if there was going to be a future for himself and Bones.

Flicking the television off, Booth laid back on the sofa. He wasn't the type of man that was used to waiting around for things. How could Bones realize that they were good together unless he was there to show her? She always followed logic and her logic said that they didn't belong together, but he could show her how to follow her heart and his heart said that they were made for each other.

The sun was shining brightly and the breeze was perfectly warm. The ocean was an unimaginable shade of blue and a person couldn't have asked for a more relaxing setting.

Temperance sat in her hotel room typing rapidly on her laptop. She decided that her time would be best spent working on her latest novel. Most writers would kill for a beautiful place like Hawaii to allow their muses to run free and hers had been all week. Angela tried to ban her from bringing the laptop, but that was something she refused to compromise on. She found writing about the fictional characters quite relaxing and besides, what if she needed to check her messages? Vacation or not, some things were too important to be pushed aside.

As busy as she was with her novel, thoughts of Booth wouldn't leave her. She missed him more than she thought she would and wasn't sure if she wanted a life without him in it. Maybe it would be best for them to stay partners and not lovers. It would be hard at first, but they were adults and they would work through it.

Temperance stood from the table and walked over to the huge bay window. The beach below was covered with people. She had gone out earlier that morning for a walk, but she didn't like to stay in the sun for too long. Grabbing her purse and hat from the bed, she decided that she would get a little shopping in. Angela told her not to come back unless she came bearing gifts.

The flight to Hawaii was almost over and Booth sat in the aisle seat listening as the old man next to him rambled on.

"Got a girlfriend?" the man asked with a smile.

Booth wasn't usually one to share his personal life with complete strangers, but he figured the old man didn't mean any harm. "Well, I'm not exactly sure…"

"Ah, got into a fight, huh?" he said with a knowing look. "My wife and I have been married for forty years and we still fight like cats and dogs."

"And you're happy that…"

"Speak up, son," the old man interrupted, leaning in to hear him better.

"And you're happy that way?" Booth asked raising his voice and feeling like an idiot as people stared.

"Sure, I'm happy. We don't always agree, but she's the best thing that ever happened to me," he said proudly. "I'd be a lost man if it weren't for her." He looked over at Booth. "Women are sensitive, son."

Booth barked a laugh. "Not this woman," he said.

"All women are sensitive, son. They may not always admit it and they might act all tough and proud, but they're sensitive alright."

Booth thought about it and realized that the old man was right. Bones was the most complicated woman he had ever known, but if this old man and his wife could be happy together for so long, then he knew they had a shot. Now, he just had to make her see it that way.

"You've just got to be gentle with 'em," the old man continued on, "and they like flowers and things, too."

Temperance was settling down in bed with her laptop when there was a knock at the door. She hadn't ordered any room service. Placing the computer aside and grabbing a light robe, she opened the door to find Booth standing there.

"What are you doing here?" She wasn't exactly upset and she wasn't overly ecstatic, but she was definitely surprised.

"I came to see you," he said, giving her his best smile. He could see the uncertainty on her face. "Look, I know that you came down here to think about things, but I think we should figure this out together, Temperance." He fidgeted as she continued to stare, making him nervous.

"I suppose that makes sense considering we're both involved in this…thing we have." She stepped aside for him to enter.

Booth stepped inside relieved.

"How did you know where I was staying?" she asked getting back into the bed. He was still standing with his hands behind his back.

"Angela."

She should have guessed. "Booth, what are you holding behind your back?"

"Um, well, I, ah, wanted to get you something nice." He stuck his hand out, full of flowers, and felt like an idiot. What the hell was he thinking buying Bones flowers?

"Booth, these are beautiful." She was up off of the bed and standing in front of him smelling the flowers. "Orchids are a popular flower in Hawaii. The Orchidaceae family is among the biggest and most diverse of the flowering plant families, with over 800 described genera and 25,000 species. Some sources give 30,000 species, but the exact number is unknown since..." She looked up from her speech to see him staring at her. "I'm sorry," she said, suddenly feeling embarrassed. She turned away to sit the flowers on the table. "I'm sure you don't care to here the boring facts about orchids."

"No, Bones, its okay," he said walking over to her. He took a chance and placed his hands on her arms. It felt so good to touch her again. "I've thought a lot about what you said before you left and I don't want you to change." He had decided on the plane that it was going to be all or nothing. "You see, Bones, I fell in love with this woman who loves to learn about any and everything and she likes to share it with other people. She's the smartest person I've ever known…and the most stubborn and defiant…and she drives me crazy." He wasn't able to see the small smile that graced her lips. "Sometimes, I don't always treat her like she deserves to be treated and sometimes stupid things come out of my mouth…but at the same time…I don't know what I'd do without her." Booth stepped closer and buried his face into her soft hair. He knew he had it bad if he missed her this much after only one week.

Temperance turned around in his arms and stared into his eyes. "You love me?" she asked in a shaky voice.

"Yeah," he whispered, "I do." He placed a finger under her chin and brought her face closer to his.

Temperance's heart beat wildly at the sincerity in his eyes. For the first time in her life, she was at a loss for words. She couldn't make sense of what she was feeling for this man.

Booth saw the uncertainty in her eyes. "Just go with it, Bones," he whispered before kissing her.

"How is it that all of my reasoning leaves me when you're around?" Temperance asked later as they lay on the bed cuddling. Her laptop had been closed and moved aside to the table.

"It's just an effect I seem to have on women," Booth grinned, his hand stroking her along her thigh lazily.

"Where's you're luggage?" she asked, her hand running through his hair.

"It's in my room on the second floor. I thought it would be pretty presumptuous to bring it with me. I mean, what if you had kicked me out on my ass?"

Temperance smiled. "You should go and get it and check out."

"Oh, yeah? Does that mean I get to stay here?" he said sitting up and leaning over her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. "Yeah," she said softly, "that means you get to stay." Their lips met in a warm kiss.

A short while later, all of Booth's things were moved into Bone's room. "How much longer do you plan on staying?" he asked taking off his t-shirt.

Temperance watched from the bed, her eyes roaming the smooth, tan skin of his chest. "I haven't actually decided," she said, continuing to watch as he stripped down to his underwear. "How long is your vacation?" she asked.

"I've got another week," he said, walking around to her side of the bed. He pulled her up and slowly untied the sash of her robe, revealing the short nightgown underneath. "We could stay here in Hawaii a little longer," he said softly, moving in to nuzzle her face.

Temperance moaned, loving the contrast of his rough skin against hers. "We could," she said. Her fingers trailed down until they hooked lightly into the waistband of his underwear. "Maybe," she began breathlessly, "you could teach me what couples do together on vacation. I've never actually taken a vacation with a man before." Her head lolled to the side, giving him full access to the soft skin of her neck.

Booth smiled. "Sounds good to me." He pulled her the hem of her gown up slowly and she lifted her arms for him to remove it. She stood before him in her panties and nothing else and his eyes drank in the breathtaking sight of body.

Temperance stepped closer and smoothed her hands across his hard chest. She trailed kisses from his shoulders to his lips where he quickly took control. Her fingers moved to the waistband of his boxers once again and as she pushed them passed his hips, she could feel his arousal pressing against her. She moved her hand between them, touching him and driving him crazy.

Booth groaned deeply at the feel of her hands. He couldn't wait any longer and pushed her panties down, gently caressing her. His fingers found moist flesh and he massaged until she was nearly limp in his arms.

"Is this part of what couples do on vacation?" she panted.

"Mm-hm," he answered. "They make love over and over until they can barely move." She smiled and bit his shoulder, loving the growl it drew from him. If this was how vacations were going to be from now on then she wouldn't mind taking them more often.

"Booth?" she said later from her spot on his chest.

"Hmm," came the tired response. He opened his eyes when he felt her move.

"I've never been in love before," she said looking down at him nervously.

Booth smiled and pulled her into an embrace. "Don't look so worried, Bones. Love is the best thing in the world when it's with the right person."

The week passed all too quickly and they were enjoying their last day together on the beach. Booth had convinced Temperance to sit with him with the promise of finding them an umbrella to sit under so her skin wouldn't burn. Her laptop hadn't been used one single time since he arrived and she was surprised to find that she didn't mind it. She never minded going on vacation alone, but Booth was showing her how great it was when you were with the person you loved.

She looked over where he was lying next to her on a lounge chair. "Booth?"

"Yeah, Bones?"

"Is this the part where we joke about not going back to D.C.?"

The End